OUR STORY

THE COOKIE THAT STARTED IT ALL

My name is Cassandra Plas and I grew up eating Dutch cookies. Some you may never have heard of, but maybe have seen before. Cookies like crispy rolled Kniepertjes, coconut macaroons and spicy speculaas, or “windmill cookies”.

My Oma and Opa (Dutch grandparents) immigrated to Canada after WWII from the Netherlands with the first 12 of 14 Children (this is not a typo…2 more were born in Canada!)

Along with all of those children she also brought along an electric iron used to make Kniepertjes. Kniepertjes are paper thin vanilla flavored cookies pressed in a cookie iron and rolled into a cigar shape. When you bite into one, the thin layers shatter.

Growing up, we loved those kniepertjes. We learned to make them and roll them – never mind the hot cookie and tender fingers). Everyone loved when Oma pulled the cookie tin out of the cupboard.

Fast forward to 2005 and our first Christmas in Southern California. I missed those cookies, and wanted to make those kniepertjes myself. After much searching, I finally found a cookie iron online that said it was good for those “Dutch cookies.” I assumed they meant THESE Dutch cookies and ordered the iron.

When the iron arrived I got right to work. I made the batter, let it rest, and got cracking on those cookies. I plugged in the iron...it sparked, the lights dimmed momentarily and it was ready to go. I dropped in the batter and waited for the steam to stop. I open the iron. What did I find? A big gloopy mess. I was horrified! I had purchased the wrong iron!?!. I could not sleep that night. My cookies had failed! Not only did I NOT have kniepertjes, I had no idea what Dutch cookies this iron supposed to make. After a little research I realized it was designed for stroopwafels and not kniepertjes. Yeah for happy accidents! And so that start of our stroopwafel adventure began…

Over the next 5 years we baked and tested and gave away cookies. Within 5 years of that fateful day we were making and giving away about 50 lbs of Dutch cookies each December to friends, family and coworkers and started to think that maybe we were on to something really good. We continued to test and perfect and make A LOT of stroopwafels.

In 2014 we decided to jump in and start Gezellig Cookies. In 2015 it was officially born.

Our goal is to bake the best Dutch cookies that we can here in Central Florida, using the best American ingredients that we can, like: organic fair trade sugar and local free range eggs. We also want to offer some non-traditional variations that you would not typically see, such as our Gluten Free original and fun seasonal offerings like maple or pb&j.

We hope you will love our cookies as much as we do.

what is "gezellig" ?

Gezellig is a Dutch word that requires a little explanation. It is pronounced: huh-ZELL-ick and the quickest explanation is “cozy.” However cozy really does not do this word justice. It is so much more than that.

Gezellig really refers to that warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you are having a good time with people you like. It’s that weekend with friends at the cottage, or an impromptu gathering after work on a Friday. It’s a well-deserved coffee and breakfast with teammates after a hard workout. It’s those times with friends that make life awesome!

With everyone leading such busy lives, our mission is just to remind everyone to slow down for a minute and enjoy the moment – preferably with people you like – and maybe even with your favorite beverage and a stroopwafel. Here’s to all your #gezelligmoments

HEH-ZELL-ICK

HARD TO SAY, EASY TO EAT

Listen to some of these folks work on their Gezellig-ness.You might not of heard of it, but it sure makes sense. Just like our cookies.